Latest news from the area

Great news for all the intrepid New Yorkers staying put this August: Summer Streets kicks off this weekend! This beloved annual event is set to take over nearly seven miles of Manhattan streets over the next three Saturdays. As in years past, Summer Streets will be jam-packed with fun and FREE events and activities, including a brand-new attraction, Slide the City, that kids (and parents) are sure to love. We've got the scoop on this new attraction, including what to expect and how to claim a spot.

NYC's FREE summer concert season comes to a close this August, but it goes out with a bang. We've rounded up 12 no-cost shows for families and kids that are worth the time, energy and schlep, including Grammy-nominated kindie band The Pop Ups and three entertainment-packed SummerStage Family Days.

Since most of these performances take place in parks and playgrounds, you can make a day of it by packing a picnic and soaking up some complimentary culture.

Those seeking alfresco art have plenty of options to choose from this summer as a slew of brand-new, kid-friendly displays just debuted in New York City.

So skip the indoors, and make the city's parks and streets your summer museum while you check out these nine public works of art, including a giant Hello Kitty and a cheerful canopy of colorful umbrellas. Our list includes uptown and downtown spots, Times Square, Brooklyn, Governors Island and the Bronx.

As summer kicks into high gear, parks all over NYC are undergoing (or finishing up) major rehab projects—and we've got the details for you here. Other news this week includes an upcoming FREE coding event for tweens and teens, MoMath's songwriting competition and news about test-making company, Pearson, that will affect next year's state standardized tests. Read on for this week's news highlights and be sure to sign up for our free newsletters, if you haven't already, to stay up to date on the latest NYC news, reviews and more.

New York City is brimming with things to see and explore with kids, from world-class museums to the great outdoors. No wonder our town is called the city that never sleeps! And yet sometimes you fall into a rut, visiting the same old favorites over and over, never leaving your comfort zone.

Well, it's time to break that habit. We've rounded up 10 new-to-NYC destinations that are worth putting on your family's summer fun bucket list. Get ready to trade the familiar for the fresh!

For my family, seeing Theatreworks USA's FREE seasonal kids' musical is as much a rite of summer as hitting the beach or the pool. And why not? For 27 years the national family theater company has been presenting high-quality productions every summer in a real Off-Broadway theater and given the tickets away!

This year's show is Skippyjon Jones Snow What, based on one of Judith Schachner's popular picture books about a quirky Siamese cat who goes on pretend adventures as his alter ego, Skippito Friskito, a sword-wielding, Zorro-like Chihuahua. Back in 2012, Theatreworks USA adapted the first title in the series to great acclaim so the troupe reassembled the same creative team for this sequel of sorts (it's not like you need to have seen the original show or even read the books to enjoy it). Although my jaded tween daughter is older than the target audience, Skippyjon Jones Snow What is so clever and jubilant that by the end she admitted it was the cat's meow. We've got the scoop on how to snag FREE tickets to this fun (and air-conditioned!) musical.

We live in a city surrounded by water on almost all sides, but when's the last time you and your kids enjoyed a day out on New York Harbor? Taking a boat ride in NYC is fun and exciting, and gives you a fresh perspective on our city and its majestic waterfront. While there are lots of different kinds of NYC sightseeing cruises in summer, some may feel a bit touristy for us natives, and others cost a pirate's booty! That's why I always mark the annual City of Water Day in my calendar. It's one of the few times you can go on a New York Harbor boat tour for FREE.

This daylong celebration of our waterfront is coming up next Saturday, July 18, and features a slew of water-themed activities in and around Governors Island and other locations. As you can imagine, the FREE boat rides are extremely popular, so it can be tricky to snag tickets for them. We've got the scoop on what your family needs to do to enjoy a no-cost cruise next Saturday, and everything else you need to know about City of Water Day.

While all three of my kids love to go for a dip, the long list of rules and regulations at NYC's public pools often exhausts me before we're even out the door. And if we do make it into the water, I end up spending the entire outing with my toddler clinging to my chest and my 5-year-old on my back. So what do I do when my kids are begging to get totally wet but I'm too tired to deal? Head to one of the city's play fountains.

A more immersive experience than standard sprinkler parks, these play fountains feature shallow pools of water for wading in addition to jets shooting sky high. They're the perfect place for kids to frolic and get completely doused without mommy having to go all in—literally.

Here are six FREE and fun play fountains in NYC where kids can get absolutely soaked this summer.